When I started reading cosmetic labels with a magnifying glass—ingredient by ingredient, process by process—I understood something that changed my perspective: what we put on our skin doesn't stay on the surface. It interacts with our hormones, with our metabolic pathways... and, most disturbingly, it can leave a "mark" that not only affects us, but could also accompany those who come after us. That's what I mean when I talk about invisible inheritance.
And even though I repeat it constantly, I feel it's never enough: I'm putting you back in context so you know what endocrine disruptors are. Because we often talk about them as if everyone knows what they are, when in reality they are invisible, silent substances that you can't smell or see, but which can alter fundamental aspects of our health.
First, the essentials: what is an endocrine disruptor?
They are substances capable of interfering with our hormonal system. They do this in several ways: mimicking a hormone and activating its receptor when it shouldn't; blocking it so the signal doesn't get through; or altering the synthesis, transport, and elimination of endogenous hormones. In simple terms: they sabotage the internal "WhatsApp" with which hormones coordinate processes as delicate as puberty, fertility, mood, metabolism, or fetal development. In cosmetics and daily environments, exposure is usually low but constant and, moreover, in mixtures (the famous cocktail effect).
2) What does epigenetic effect mean?
Epigenetics speaks of me, of you, and of all of us.
Epigenetics is, in short, the way our environment writes notes on our genes. It doesn't change the letters of the DNA, but it does change how they are read. It's as if your life were a book: the pages are printed from birth, but epigenetics decides which paragraphs are underlined, which are covered with a sticky note, and which are read aloud.
And this is where hormonal disruptors come into play. These chemical substances are capable of putting their own underlines on our biological history. Sometimes they silence genes that should be active; other times they turn on lights where there should be calm. The result: a body that functions with altered signals, like an orchestra playing out of tune.
The most disturbing thing is that these epigenetic marks don't always get erased when passed down from generation. They can remain imprinted and be transmitted. That is to say, what I live, what surrounds me, what comes into contact with my skin... can leave a mark on the health of those who have not yet been born.
And when I understood it, it changed my perspective. I no longer talk about "taking care of myself" just for me, but also for those who will come. Because epigenetics reminds us of something very powerful: our daily choices—the air we breathe, the food we eat, the cosmetics we use—are messages that travel beyond our own life.
3) Scientific evidence: studies in animals and humans
When I started delving into the scientific literature on endocrine disruptors, what impressed me most were the facts: the experiments showing that exposure to these substances can leave a footprint that passes from parents to children, and in some cases even to grandchildren.
This has been clearly observed in animals. For example, in a study with mice exposed to bisphenol A (BPA)—the same compound that for years was present in plastics and packaging—alterations in fertility and metabolism were observed not only in the exposed animals, but also in their offspring. As if that first generation had written a "chemical reminder" in their genes that was later inherited by their children and grandchildren.
Another widely cited case is that of vinclozolin, a pesticide. Researchers found that exposure during gestation in rats led to fertility problems in males across several subsequent generations. And here we are not talking about direct contact with the substance, but about effects transmitted via epigenetics.
In humans, although the evidence is more complex to gather (because we cannot conduct controlled experiments of that type), there are also alarming data. Cohort studies have found that prenatal exposure to certain phthalates and pesticides is linked to early puberty, changes in neurological development, and an increased risk of childhood obesity. These are not just isolated associations: they are patterns that are repeated in different countries and populations.
When I read these studies, I inevitably think about something personal: what will happen to the generation of my children, my nephews and nieces, the children who are growing up today surrounded by everyday chemicals? Science is telling us that inheritance is no longer just genetic, it is also environmental. And that silent inheritance can condition the lives of those who have not yet been born.
That is why, at Banbu, we don't talk about "clean trends" or greenwashing. We talk about real prevention. Because it is not an exaggeration to say that what you choose to put on your skin today can be writing a page in your family's health history.
4) Examples of intergenerational consequences
When we talk about epigenetics and endocrine disruptors, it can sound very abstract. So I want to ground it: what does it really mean that these substances leave a mark beyond the exposed person?
Science gives us several clues:
🔹 Fertility
One of the most studied effects is sperm quality. In animal studies, exposure to pesticides or plastics not only affected the exposed generation, but also their children and grandchildren: lower sperm count, less motility, more difficulty conceiving. And in humans, worrying trends are already being observed: in the last 50 years, sperm concentration has halved in many Western populations. Is it just a coincidence? More and more experts point to disruptors playing a part in this story.
🔹 Reproductive development
In girls, early exposure to phthalates and bisphenol A has been linked to early puberty, meaning the activation of the hormonal system ahead of time. This not only changes the experience of childhood, but also increases the risk of certain health problems in adulthood.
🔹 Metabolism and obesity
Some disruptors act as "obesogens": they reprogram cells to store more fat. Animal studies show that the offspring of mothers exposed to BPA or pesticides have a greater tendency to obesity and insulin resistance. That is, a higher risk of type 2 diabetes that does not depend only on diet or exercise, but on that inherited invisible footprint.
🔹 Neurological development
Perhaps the most sensitive: the brain. Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and phthalates has been linked to attention problems, lower IQ, and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. We are talking about something as delicate as the ability to learn, to concentrate, to develop fully.
I tell it and it still moves me: because we're not just talking about ourselves, about our skin or our immediate well-being. We're talking about how our daily decisions can influence the lives of those who haven't even been born yet. And that's what makes all of this not just theory: it's responsibility.
It's not about eliminating an ingredient because it's fashionable to say it's bad. It's about going a step further and understanding how it interacts with biology, with life itself, and with that invisible inheritance we leave behind.
5) Why should this matter to us in cosmetics and daily life?
Sometimes people ask me: "Verónica, but really, what does a cream or a deodorant have to do with all this epigenetics?" And I understand the doubt, because in the collective imagination, cosmetics are something innocent, almost superficial, an aesthetic whim. But the reality is different: cosmetics are one of the main routes of daily exposure to endocrine disruptors.
Think about your routine:
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You shower with a scented gel.
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You apply moisturizing cream.
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You put on makeup with foundation, powder, mascara.
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You put on perfume before leaving the house.
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And, at night, you repeat part of the ritual with make-up remover, serum and night cream.
That's many layers of product, every day, for years. Although each cosmetic on its own contains low doses of questionable chemicals, the problem lies in the sum: what we call the cocktail effect. Small amounts that, together and accumulated over time, have a real impact.
Furthermore, there's something we often repeat at Banbu: skin is not armor, it's a living organ. It has memory, it breathes, it absorbs. What we apply doesn't just disappear; some of it penetrates and enters our body. And if these ingredients are hormonal disruptors, they can alter key biological messages.
That's why it should matter to us. Because we're not talking about an abstract problem, but something that is part of our daily lives. That cream that smells so good might contain phthalates in its fragrance. That nail polish that shines so brightly might release formaldehyde. That "softening" shampoo might hide parabens.
It's not about living in fear, but about living with awareness. Understanding that every action counts and that we have the possibility to choose. I always say that cosmetics can be a vehicle for health or a vehicle for risk. And at Banbu, we decided from day one that it would be a vehicle for hormonal health.
Because in the end, what we put on our skin doesn't stay on the surface: it's a silent conversation with our body... and with the future we leave to those who come after us.
Ultimately, the important thing is to understand that our daily actions are not neutral. It's not just a cream, a perfume, or a deodorant: it's constant exposure that can interact with our body in ways we often don't see.
And that's the hopeful part: we have the option to choose differently. To fill our toiletry bags with products that nurture, instead of harming. To opt for clean formulas that respect our skin and our hormonal health.
Because cosmetics should never be a hidden risk, but an ally for well-being. And when we understand that every daily choice is also a way of writing our biological story—and perhaps that of those who will come after—everything takes on a much deeper meaning.
That, precisely, is the path we decided to follow at Banbu: cosmetics that don't compromise health, but enhance it. For you, for today and for tomorrow.
